Hilary Devey set for Dragons’ Den seat

Hilary Devey is set to fill
James Caan’s old seat in the Dragons’ Den when the show returns later in the year.

Hilary Devey will become the second woman on the Dragons’ Den panel alongside Deborah Meaden

Caan announced he was stepping down last month to focus on his charity work, leaving the BBC a Dragon down.

The corporation has now announced Hilary will be joining Duncan Bannatyne , Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis in the Den.

Hilary started her palette business Pall-Ex in 1996, selling her car and home to help the venture initially get off its feet.

The firm is now valued at millions of pounds and her business model has become standard across the industry.

‘I would have loved the opportunity to have stood before the Dragons, and I will remember my own experiences and the realities of running a business today, when choosing to support – or reject – the budding entrepreneurs joining me in the Den,’ she said.

Production on series nine of the BBC show is now underway and a further three seasons have been commissioned.